On January 19, 2026, at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat the Gujarat Giants (GG) by 61 runs in the 2026 Women’s Premier League.
This was one of the best games of the year. The result not only guaranteed RCB a spot in the playoffs, but it was also their fifth straight win of the season, which shows that they are strong contenders for the title in this year’s WPL.
Ashleigh Gardner, the captain of the Gujarat Giants, won the toss and chose to bowl first when the sun began to set over the beautiful ground in Vadodara. This is because the place has a history of being good for chasing. The Kotambi track has always been good for batters in the second innings, and since high-scoring games are common here, it was a brave move to try to take advantage of the early bowling conditions.
Both sides fielded full-strength squads. Gujarat Giants lineup featured big names such as Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner, while RCB countered with a balanced mix of experience and youth, led by skipper Smriti Mandhana alongside star performers Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk and Lauren Bell.
First Innings: RCB Posts a Commanding Total
The RCB batters went after the Gujarat attack right away, even though they had some trouble at first. They were looking for the best way to get a lot of points. The Giants got off to a good start when Renuka Singh got rid of Harris cheaply after Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris opened the innings. RCB looked unsettled when they were 9/2 in the first few overs.
At this point, Gautami Naik emerged as the defining figure for RCB.She kept the innings going with her calm and fluent knock of 73 runs, building partnerships, switching the strike, and punishing any loose balls. Naik’s knock came at a very important time and helped RCB get back on track after losing early wickets. It also made sure that a big total was possible.
Even after Naik’s dismissal, RCB continued to find contributions from across the order .RCB ended their 20 overs strong, scoring 178 runs with the help of Richa Ghosh and Radha yadav. This was a competitive total that showed both strength and a desire to attack.
Second Innings: Gujarat Giants Struggle in the Chase
The Giants chase began with a lot of stress. RCB’s bowlers quickly put Gujarat on the defensive. Sayali Satghare took two wickets in a very exciting over, getting rid of both Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine during the powerplay. The challengers had a great start.
Gujarat’s batters could never form the crucial partnerships they needed to get close to 180 runs. Kanika Ahuja, Anushka Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, and Georgia Wareham all got out cheaply, and wickets fell all the time. This made it harder to find partners who could score quickly.
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Ashleigh Gardner, who chose to bowl first and then take charge with the bat, was strong and made a short comeback. She scored a personal best of 54, which included a part with a lot of boundaries that showed fans she was fighting back. But even that made sure that the RCB bowling pressure didn’t stop.
The RCB bowlers were cheap and kept going, making it hard for any batter to get comfortable and not giving anything away in the middle overs. Sayali Satghare’s stats showed how much she changed the game. The Giants scored 117 runs in 20 overs, which was 61 runs short of their goal.
Key performances and tactical tips
Gautami Naik – The Anchor of RCB’s Innings: Gautami Naik was definitely the best player in the game. She scored 73 runs under pressure, which made the difference between a good total and a very strong one. Naik was a key part of the RCB batting lineup because she could rotate the strike, find gaps, and build partnerships.
Smriti Mandhana: Leadership and Stability: Mandhana didn’t get a lot of runs herself, but she helped RCB keep up a good pace in the middle overs. It was very important to stay calm when making decisions and timing in order to find a balance between aggression and control.
RCB was very disciplined with the ball. They kept tight lines and lengths, changed the pace, and put pressure on the other team by breaking through often. Gujarat never seemed to be able to calm down, and every partnership ended before it could turn into a match-winning stand.
RCB’s win gave them a five-game winning streak and a spot in the WPL 2026 playoffs. This shows how steady their campaign has been. The win made it clear who the favorites were and who the other teams weren’t.
The Giants have been having a hard time lately, and this loss made things even worse. They started the season off well with some wins, but three losses in a row have caused them to fall in the standings. They need to get back together quickly if they want to stay in the running for a knockout spot.
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RCB’s 61-run win over the Gujarat Giants was another big step in their carefully planned campaign in a tournament that has captured the imagination of cricket fans all over India and beyond. RCB is hard to beat because they have a lot of good batters, bowlers of all kinds, and a clear plan. As the season goes on and the playoffs and finals get closer, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women look like the team to beat in the 2026 Women’s Premier League.
Whether it’s the explosive knocks of their batters or the clinical execution of their bowlers, this RCB side offers fans excitement, consistency and serious championship credentials .Gujarat’s lesson will be to find balance, spark, and partnerships to make their good start last.
RCB hasn’t just won games in WPL 2026; they’ve raised the bar.
